LeClair, who had served 14 years at the church, stepped down in 2011
after media reports first exposed his gambling problem. In July 2012, he
was charged with fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000, which he
pleaded guilty to on Monday.

Despite stealing money to feed his gambling habit, a number of
parishioners showed up in court Monday to support LeClair. One woman
wiped tears from her eyes throughout the proceedings.

In a written statement issued Monday after LeClair’s guilty plea,
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast said the Ottawa Archdiocese will
continue to support LeClair in his recovery.

"Despite this difficult decision affecting Fr. LeClair’s life, I know
that he is relieved to have this painful moment behind him. I share his
desire, and that of the many people who supported him over the last two
years, to move on and to look to the future,” the statement said.

Prendergast also said that despite being encouraged to pursue the
matter outside the criminal system, he referred the issue to the police
because of the “need of our Catholic Church to be transparent about such
matters.”

“With Fr. LeClair, we now look to the future, understanding that the
court’s decision on sentencing will be part of any future plan. In a
courageous and very public way, Fr. LeClair admitted to the addictions
which were harmful to him personally and to his pastoral ministry,”
Prendergast wrote.

LeClair, who had a reputation as a charismatic speaker, had attracted a
large following during his time at the church in Ottawa’s Glebe
neighbourhood.

But after reports of his gambling habits surfaced in 2011, The Archdiocese of Ottawa launched an audit on church finances.

Ottawa police allege more than $240,000 was misappropriated from 2006
to 2011, while an additional $160,000 was unaccounted for.

It’s alleged
that $20,000 in furniture and household items belonging to the parish
was also taken from the rectory when LeClair left the church.

Police say
the items were later recovered from a house outside of Ontario.